For Sama

Terrifying, Devastating and, Surprisingly, outstanding documentation about the horrific Siege of Aleppo in 2016.

Okay first a moan - somehow at the time of writing some eight people have scored this 3 or less - while we are entitled to out own views and tastes it is pretty staggering that anyone couldn't see the brilliance and humanity of this most human of documentaries. I challenge anyone not to watch this film and be deeply moved - oh and if you aren't my guess is you need to check your empathy and compassion out! This is possibly the most searingly human film I have ever witnessed and I do not say that lightly. It should be obligatory watching for our schools however horrific it is as it teaches more about the world, humanity, suffering, resilience, hope and life than a thousand lessons. It would also help to get a society that sees their own lives and the lives of others in a much more balanced and open way. There are moments in this film that are among the hardest I have ever witnessed, it moved my partner to tears and left me struggling to watch BUT ultimately it is nothing short of magnificent. Right now in my head not just one of the best documentaries ever but one of the best films. Thank you to all involved in this, particularly the wonderful Waad Al-Khateab, but also her friends, family and all of the Syrians who suffered while shamefully the world looked the other way.

A bracing first-hand account of the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Syria, For Sama is a love letter from a mother to her daughter, an elegy of what it means to have a homeland, and a document of immediate relevance & urgency that brings to light the brutal atrocities committed by the Syrian government against its own citizens.

Capturing the female experience of war through Waad Al-Kateab's camera lens, For Sama chronicles her life in Aleppo over the course of 5 years, from the early uprising against the regime to the violent retaliation that completely destroyed their city. Juxtaposed with the horrors of war is Waad's own intimate journey to motherhood.

Jam-packed with authentic footage of human right violations, there are moments in this documentary that are graphic, harrowing & emotionally devastating but all of these grisly images add considerable weight to their predicament situation and the horrors they were subjected to on a daily basis, with constant shelling serving as a reminder that death lurks nearby.

A resounding portrait of relentless determination in the face of persistent danger, For Sama presents a citizen journalist going above & beyond the call of duty to provide the world a direct access into the cataclysmic conflict that left thousands dead & millions homeless, and highlights the fact that being a refugee is nobody's first choice. A powerful, gripping & haunting piece of indispensable info, For Sama is essential viewing.

For Sama is not a film. It's rather a complete work of art. Highly recommended watching it and changing your typical heroes to Waad, Hamza, Afraa, and the rest of the angle guys. Can't recommend it enough. With respect and love ❤

This film looks at the war in Syria through an entirely new lens. Its footage and narrative is chilling and thought-provoking. I'm not surprised at all that the film won both "Best Documentary" and the "Audience Award - Best Documentary" at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. It deserves those accolades and more.